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And what about all the Masonic (Babylonian) imagery in their early publications and all over the grave site of their founder? Why do JWs exchange money with more of the same pagan imagery all over it? And what about the content of Acts 17, where Paul quotes Aratus, a pagan Greek pantheist - is that text not of "pagan" origin?

-BH

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__________________

"Convince us of our errors of doctrine if we have any, by reason, by logical argument, or by the word of God and we will be ever grateful for the information and you will ever have the the pleasing reflection that you have been instruments in the hands of God in redeeming your fellow beings from the darnkess which you may see enveloping their minds" - The Seer, Orsen Pratt, Mormon “Apostle”

Pagans believe in many Gods.
Witnesses believe in many Gods.
Therefore, Witnesses are Pagans.

...

Cows are mammals.
Goats are mammals.
Therefore, goats are cows.

TRiG.

I appreciate the fact you are no longer JW, Trig but the logical fallacy is in your illustration.

reread both carefully.

The Bible is its own best commentary.Prophecy is the word of God

which sometimes speaks of future... sometimes of the present... sometimes of the past.A prophet is the tool God uses.It's not about the prophet, but about the God who uses the prophet to speak his word...

de-flawed...

Cows are mammals.
Goats are mammals.
Therefore, goats and cows are mammals.

In keeping with the definition of mammals.

Pagans believe in many Gods.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe in many Gods.
Therefore, Witnesses are Pagans.

In keeping with the definition of Paganism.
Although polytheism would have been a better (more accurate) choice of words.

The Bible is its own best commentary.Prophecy is the word of God

which sometimes speaks of future... sometimes of the present... sometimes of the past.A prophet is the tool God uses.It's not about the prophet, but about the God who uses the prophet to speak his word...

Because there is so much scholarship out there that demonstrates, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Christianity did not "evolve" out of a vacuum, but was developed from the kernels of Jewish religious thought found in the Old Testamant and inter-Testamental writings (much on which were discovered at the Dead Sea).

Originally Posted by GiGi

[W]hy liberal?

Because most liberals (I speak of liberal Christian theologians) are stuck in the arguments of the 19th century Germans liberal theologians. These theologians made ***ertions that have been refuted with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (as mentioned above). Further, liberal Christians bring to the table the presupposition that Christianity was not a "child" of Judaism, but was some sort of cheap attempt at copying the pagan mystery religions. This claim is made in spite of clear evidence that many of these pagan mystery religions were copycats of Christianity, or contain legends that are as far removed from Christianity as modern humans are removed from the flea.

Because there is so much scholarship out there that demonstrates, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Christianity did not "evolve" out of a vacuum, but was developed from the kernels of Jewish religious thought found in the Old Testamant and inter-Testamental writings (much on which were discovered at the Dead Sea).

Because most liberals (I speak of liberal Christian theologians) are stuck in the arguments of the 19th century Germans liberal theologians. These theologians made ***ertions that have been refuted with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (as mentioned above). Further, liberal Christians bring to the table the presupposition that Christianity was not a "child" of Judaism, but was some sort of cheap attempt at copying the pagan mystery religions. This claim is made in spite of clear evidence that many of these pagan mystery religions were copycats of Christianity, or contain legends that are as far removed from Christianity as modern humans are removed from the flea.

I've been participating on religious discussion boards for a while and I don't recall anyone ever saying that Christianity evolved from a vacuum.
I think anyone familiar with Christianity knows that Jesus was, purportedly, Jewish.
I think many have noticed the simularities between Christianity and other, more ancient religions.
I'm not sure how you conclude from this that these folks are uneducated or liberals.

Really. In the crowds I deal with there are people that deny Jesus ever existed.

Sadly, I have spoken with many people that seem to believe that just because there are similarities, that Christianity ripped these off those religions.

It's called 17 years of evangelism and apologetic work. I forgot something even more important...people that believe as you stated, are NOT Christians either.

I've noticed a tendency in religious people, not just Christians, to dismiss the questions and concerns of others.
Uneducated, liberal, and NOT Christians either? Could it be that you have that tendency?

I've noticed a tendency in religious people, not just Christians, to dismiss the questions and concerns of others.
Uneducated, liberal, and NOT Christians either? Could it be that you have that tendency?

That would be an incorrect ***umption on your part.

I have noticed the tendency of atheists, agnostics and skeptics to dismiss the questions of others as being uneducated, narrow-minded, and bigoted.

which sometimes speaks of future... sometimes of the present... sometimes of the past.A prophet is the tool God uses.It's not about the prophet, but about the God who uses the prophet to speak his word...

which sometimes speaks of future... sometimes of the present... sometimes of the past.A prophet is the tool God uses.It's not about the prophet, but about the God who uses the prophet to speak his word...